Team Alpha Male fighter Danny Castillo (9-3) didn’t even have two full years of professional fights under his belt before getting a shot at the WEC, but he’s managed to go 4-3 in the promotion, with only two of his bouts going the distance.

While crediting his friend and training partner Urijah Faber for getting his big break so soon, Castillo recently told ProMMAnow.com that he’s improved quite a bit and more than holds his own while sparring with some of the fighters on the UFC roster.

That’s good to know, since Castillo will need to prove his worthiness inside the Octagon with the WEC-UFC merger. But before that, he needs to worry about Will Kerr (9-2) at WEC 53 on Dec. 16, the promotion’s final show. Kerr’s last two wins have come by submission, and Castillo is making sure to strengthen that part of his MMA game.

“I’ve had trouble with submission defense in the past. I think that’s where he’s going to try to expose me. But I’ve been grappling a ton and working on that, and my ground and pound is going to be a lot better than it has in the past.”